Program Bonding: A Measure of Responsivity to Treatment

Mary E. Poulin, Temple University

ABSTRACT

In order to test the relationship between youths success in delinquency prevention programs and their bonding to the program, the Program Bonding Scale was developed. The scale is intended to tap youths program attachment, attachment/connection to staff, caring and trust from staff, staff attention, and staff support. It is believed that the Program Bonding Scale serves as a measure of youths responsivity to treatment. The paper describes the scale development process as well as a pilot test conducted to test the relationship between bonding and outcomes. Outcome data from a system that tracks youths who receive delinquency prevention services in Philadelphia were examined to identify whether strong program bonding was related to youths success at the program.